Gas-burner control system



June 7, 1949. w. A. RAY 2,472,384

GAS BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed AprilV 1, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, Y l/x//LL/AMA @AY vl, ATTORNEY.

June 7, 1949. w. A. RAY

GA3 BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1947 nA/YoLE 4%. Mo T/ohl INVENToR,

YQ. A/h. M/ w Patented' June 1, 1949 UNITED STATES. P-ArENT ol-*Flfcrzl 2,412,384 i ems-mummia coN'raoL srs'raM William A. Ray, North Bollywood, Calif., aslignor to General Controls Co.. Glendale, Calif., a core poration of California d Application April 1,' 1947, Serial 510,738,510

My present invention relates to gas-burner control systems. and more particularly to an improved valve structure for controlling such a system. Conventional valves, of the type to which the structureof this invention pertains, include a safety-valve, biased to closed position and manually-openable, and means, responsive to thel name of the burner controlled by the valve, for retaining the valve in open position while the name exists.

It is an object of -this invention to combine, with a valve of the type described, electrical means for ignlting the gas at the burner.

Another object is lto provide a valve structure having a single actuating-means or handle for controlling both the opening of the safety valve4 and the igniting of the gas.

Another object is to arrange the manual control means so that the production of an electric spark or equivalent eieet can be repeated, as many tages. reference is to be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Claims. (CI. s- 1171) safety-valve comprising 1a disk-like closure 2|,

Figure 1 is a sectional /view of a valve structure embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken generally along the irregular line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken in the plane of line 2-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure i is a sectional view of the manual actuating means, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic viewof ak gas-burnerl control system including the valve structure shown in Figs. 1-4; and

Figure 6 is a chart showing the angular positions of handle 53 corresponding to the various control operations.

In the drawing, the numeral indicates a valve easing having an inlet |2 and a main outlet I3, communication between which is controlled by a tapered plug I4 seated in a conforming opening in thecasing and having a now-controlling passage vI5 adapted, in the rotation of the plug.'y to be placed in and out of register with passages l5 and I1 leading to the inlet and main outlet, respectively, of the casing. Branching from the passageA I5 isA a'` restricted supplemental-outlet passage Il which communicates with a pipe vI9 shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 5.- Y

In the inlet chamber 20 of the valve casing is a cooperable with a circular seat raised at the inlet end of passage I5, and carried by anangled lever 22 of channeled construction; the closure having a turned-up ear portion 23 which is connected to the lever by a pin 24 so that the closure can rock slightly to conform to its seat. Supporting the lever 22 is a bracket having, as seen in Fig, 2, spaced side-portions 25 which are secured by screws 25 to bosses 21 projecting from the wall of the upper 'portion of the inlet chamber 20. Extending upwardly from the bracket-portions 25 are arms 2l spaced to receive the lever 22 and supporting a pin 29 on which the lever is pivoted. At their left-hand ends (as viewed in Fig. 1) the bracket-portions 25 are bent downwardly and toward each other to form an abutment 30 for the upper end of a compression spring 3| whose bottom end bears against the horizontal surface of a shallow depression in the top of the plug I4, thereby maintaining the plug properly seated; a washer 32 being' interposed between the spring and the bracket. Depending from the bracketportions 30 is a cup-like receiver 33 (the upper portion of which is apertured at its sides as viewed in Fig. 1) for the lower end of a, spring 34 whose upper end bears, through a cup 35, against the downwardly-bent pointed extremity 36 of the left-hand end of lever 22, thereby biasing the lever to closure-seating position.

The squared stem 31 of the plug I4 is within an elongated opening, through the bottom wall of the valve casing, encompassed by a tubular extension 38. Within the extension is a cupped member 35 having in its end wall an opening tting the plug-stem 31; four spaced fingers 4|) extending outwardly and downwardly from.the rim of the cup, as is better seen in Fig. 4. .Around the extension 35 is a sleeve 4|, to the flaredtop end of which a ball-race 42 is secured as by welding. 'I'his race, together with balls 43, forms a ball-bearing support for the sleeve and is held in place by a snap-ring 44 cooperating with a shoulder formed on the extension 38. Providing a lost-motion connection between the sleeve 4| and the plug-operating member 39 is an arm 45, dished slightly at the middle, whose opposite extremities are received in conforming slots in the sleeve 4| (Fig. 4); the inner portions of the arm lying between the lingers 41)' of member 39. Secured to the arm 45, by a screw 46, is an inner cap 41 iltting over the sleeve 4| and whose side wall is provided with projections 48 (Fig. 4) which form inner recesses for receiving vthe extremities of arm4 45. thereby providing a driving connection between the cap 41 and arm 45 independent of screw there beingv extra projections 4B' so that, if desired, the cap' can be mounted in another position at to that shown. From the o0 foregoing vit is clear that the cap 41, arm 45 and at its outer end to the side wall of the outer cap,

being freely mounted on the screw 46 so that it can be rotated with respect to the inner cap 41 through an angular distance (approximately 45") determined by the distance between'the projections 48-48. counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) with respect to the inner cap 41 is a relativelys tifl' coil-spring 5I (Figs. 1 and 3) which is welded and at its inner end to an angle-bracket 52 secured to the end wall ofthe inner cap. Projecting integrally from the outer cap 49 is a handle 53 which constitutes the outer cap a handle member. l

Formed integrally with the sleeve 4| andprojecting laterally from the top rim thereof is a` lug 54 which, as can be seen in Fig. 2, cooperates with a small bell-crank lever 55 disposed partially within a slot 5B (Fig. 3) milled in a thickened outer portion of the valve casing, and pivoted on a pin 51. Engageable by the right-hand aim of the bell-crank 55 is a-rod 58, reciprocable in a vertical`opening in the casing leading togthe inlet chamber 20. and whose upper end cooperates with a lateral extension of the upper part oi the closure-lever 22. To prevent escape of gas around rod 58, the opening for this rod is counterbored at its upper end to receive a spring 6D which serves to compress a soft washer 6I around the rod-opening; the upper portion of the spring bear-- ing against an arm B2 having an opening for the rod, which arm is formed as an extension of one v of the bracket-portions 25.

Formed as a lateral projection of the rim of the outer cap 49 is another lug 63 which carries a finger 64; the nger being pvoted on a pin 55 and normally held, by a torsion spring 66, with its rear portion in engagement with a stop-pin 61, so that when the cap 49 is rotated in clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) the linger 64 acts as a rigid extension of the lug 63, but is yieldable when the cap 49 is rotated in the opposite direction. y

. Mounted on the valve casing by means of an angle-bracket 68, and generally indicated at 69, isa magneto having a stem 10 to which is secured an actuating-arm or trigger 1|. This magneto may be of conventional design and its structural details are not disclosed since they have no bear- Biasing the outer cap 49 in a .,(4' 'filir neled arm 16 which is screws 11, with diaphragm 14 therebetween; the connection between thesev parts beinggas-tight. A disk-shaped armaturel 18 isgrockablyl mounted on the'arm 16 by means of a' headedpin '19 riveted to the arm and freely extending through a central opening in the armature; a compression spring 80 urging the armature against the head of the pin. Cooperable with this armature, and secured to the top'wall" of housing 15, is an electromagnet comprising a U-syhaped core 8| and an energizing coil' 82, the leadsoi which are connected to termina] posts 83 insulatingly mounted in the side wall of the housing. The electromagnet is incapaf ble of attracting the armature through space but is adapted, when energized and the armature is rst mechanically brought into engagement with the pole-faces 84, to magnetically hold the annature and thereby the closure-lever against the bias exerted by spring 34.

Referring now, to -the burner-control system shown in Fig. 5. the numeral 85 indicates amain gas-burner which is connected by a pipe 86 to the main outlet I3 of the valve casing. For igniting 4 whose insulated electrodeis connected by a wire f 92 to one lead 93 of the magneto-coil 12, the other" lead of this coilbeing internally grounded to the frame of the magneto so that the high-tensioni, thibasl circuit for the spark-plug is completed the metallic parts of the system.

Assuming that the inlet lz of the valvefvcsing is connected to a supply of fuel-gas, with the parts in the positions shown in the drawingilow of gas to both 'the main and the pilot burner is obstructed by the closure 2|; the handle .53 then being in the position indicated by the line 94 in the chart of Fig. 6. If the handle member 53, 4 9 is now manually rotated in clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 6) force is ing on the present invention. It sufilces to state that the trigger 1|, as shown in solid lines in the drawing, is in a stopped position to which it is biased, and when the trigger is moved from this position to its broken-line position shown in Fig. 3. mechanical energy is stored in the magneto, which energy, when the trigger is then released' and snaps back to its former position, Ais translated, by means of a coil 12 mounted on the frame 13 of the magneto. into electrical energy of potential high enough to produce a spark or series of sparks between suitably-spaced electrodes connected to the coil. `,Covering the open top of the valve casing II is a diaphragm 14, of Aflexible material such as Leather, which is clamped at its marginbetween the casing and the flanged mouth of a housing 15 secured to the casing. Forming within housing an extension of the closure-lever 22 is a chanof the bell-crank with the floor of slot 55); the

appliedv through coil-spring 5I to the unit consisting of inner cap 41, arm 45 and sleeve 4|, causing rotation of this unit so that the bellcrank 55 is rocked by the lug 54 to eiect upward 5 movement of rod 58 and rocking of the closurelever 22 (and its extension 1B) to a position wherein movement of these parts is limited by the engagement of armature 18 with the'pole-faces 84 of the electromagnet (or by the engagement plug I4 also being rotated in this operation (through the arm 45 and the fingers 4I) of the plug-operating member 39) but not suilclently to bring the plug-opening I5 into communication with the passages IG-H, it being obviously desixable that ow of gas to the main burner be prevented until the pilot burner is lighted. The

coil-spring 5I in the handle member is of suchv stiifness that it does not yield appreciably during the foregoing operation, sothat the handle 88 moved.

is in the position indicated by the chart-line at the conclusion of the operation; the angular distance between the lines 94 and 95 correspond-A ing to the arc through which the sleeve 4| is It is to be observed that if the handle 53 is 95 (assuming that the electromagnet is unenergized) all of the parts, with the exception of the plug and its operating member 39, will .return under the force of the bias spring 34 to the positions shown in the drawing; the lost-motion connection aorded by the spaced fingers 40 eliminating the frictional load which otherwise would be imposed by the plug.

Due to the yieldable connection aiiorded by the coil-spring 5I the handle member can be rotated in clockwise direction beyond the position indicated by the chart-line 95 (the inner cap 41 and the parts operated thereby remaining in their arrested positions) so that the iinger 64 engages the magneto-trigger I I and moves it to its brokeniine position from which position (indicated by chart-line 96), when the finger 64 is rotated slightly farther, the trigger snaps back to eiect production of a spark (as described above) at the released when it is in the position of chart-line tion; a resilient connection between said valveopening means and said handle member, said connection being relatively' unyielding in the opening of the closure but yielding to permit continued movement of the handle member beyond said position; electrical means, operated by said continued movement of the handle member, for

ignitig 'the' gas at said burner; and means reelectrodes of the spark-plug. 9|, which spark ignites the gas now owing (since closure 2| is unseated) to the pilot burner.

Should the spark fail to ignite the gas at the iirst attempt. the operation can be repeated as many times as necessary, without eiecting disengagement oi the armature 18 from the poleiaces 94, by 'first rotating the handle backwardly to a position wherein the nger 04 can pass behind the trigger 1I, that position being indicated by the chart-line 91.

When iiame is established at the pilot burner, the handle is maintained in operated position until the thermocouple has-become heated to a temperature such that electricity is generated by the thermocouple in an amount suiiicient to cause the electromagnet to h old the amature, whereupon the handle may be released; the lever 22 then being magnetically retained in closure-open position, while the pilot. name exists. To supply gas to the main burner, the handle is rotated in counterclockwise direction to the position indicated by the chart-line 98, corresponding to the fully-open position of the plug, or to some position between the chart-lines 98 and 99 if it is desired to throttle now to the main burner. In the initial clockwise rotation of the handle from the position of chart-line 98 the lost-motion, due to the spacing of nngers 40, is taken up, as is indicated by the chart-line |09. In the event o! extinguishment of the pilot-burner name, upon cooling of the thermocouple and resultant deenergization of the electromagnet, the amature isreleased so that the safety-valve, comprising lever 22 and closure 2l, closes under the force o! bias-spring 34. thereby completely obstructing iiow through the valve casing; it then being necessary to reinitiate operation oi' the system in the manner described above.

The speciiic embodiment of my invention here.- in shown and described isobviously susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit ot the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas-burner control system: a burner; a valve for controlling supp oi' gas to said burner and having a closure b ed to closed P0- sition: manuallyoperable means for opening said valve and including a handle! member movable to a position whereinsaid cl is open; means limiting the movement oi d valve-opening means when said handle member il in said posi- ,sponsive to the flame of said burner for holding 10" ,said closure in open position against the force of said bias while said iiame exists.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and wherein said gas-igniting means comprises mechanical means, operated by said continued movement of said handle member, for generating electricity.

3. The combination dened in claim 1, and wherein said gas-igniting means .comprises a magneto adapted to produce a spark at said burner and operated by said continued movement of said handle member.

4. In a gas-burner control system: a burner; a valve for controlling supply of gas to said burner and having a closure; an arm movable to open said closure and biased to a position wherein the closure is closed; an armature carried by said arm; an electromagnet engageable by said armature when said arm is in closureopen position and thereby limiting movement of the arm, said electromagnet being adapted when energized to magnetically hold said armature andthereby retain said arm in closureopen position against the force of said bias; manual' means, including a handle member, for moving said arm to closure-open position; a resilient connection between said arm andsaid handle member, said connection being relatively unyielding in the movement of the arm to closureopen position but yielding, when the movement oi. the arm is limited, to permit continued movement of the handle member; electrical means. operated by said continued movement of the handle member, for igniting the gas at said burner; and means responsive to the ilame of said burner for effecting energization oi' said electromagnet sothat said arm is retained in closure-open position whilethe iiame exists.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, and wherein said gas-igniting means comprises mechanical means, operated by said continued movement of said handle member, for generating electricity.

6. The combination dened in claim 4,'and wherein said gas-igniting means comprises a magneto adapted to produce a spark at said burner and operated bysaid continued movement of said handle member.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

